CPS Academic Center exam prep
Prepare for the real test, not an easier one.
Rigorous, teacher-reviewed practice for the Academic Center entrance exam. Start with a free diagnostic this fall and see exactly where your child stands.
How it works
- 1
Free diagnostic
A short printable test your child takes with pencil and paper, the way the real exam is given.
- 2
Skill Gap Report
Tap in the answers on your phone. See Verbal and Non-Verbal results and the specific skills to work on.
- 3
Full practice tests
Timed, printable mock exams with estimated scores on the CPS 600-point scale, and progress over time.
How many points does your child need?
Academic Center admission is 600 points: up to 300 from last year's grades in reading, math, science and social studies, and up to 300 from the entrance exam. Enter grades and an exam score to compare with last year's cutoffs.
Total
550 / 600
Grades 300 / 300
Exam 250 / 300
| Academic Center | Rank cutoff | Composite needed | Last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Tech | 587.5 | 155 | 37.5 short |
| Whitney Young | 577.5 | 151 | 27.5 short |
| Taft | 545 | 138 | Above rank |
| Kenwood | 527.5 | 131 | Above rank |
| Brooks | 517.5 | 127 | Above rank |
| Lindblom | 480 | 112 | Above rank |
| Morgan Park | 430 | 92 | Above rank |
Cutoffs: CPS initial offers released 3/13/2026. The first 30% of seats go to the highest totals (rank cutoff); the rest are split across the four tiers. “Composite needed” uses these grades and your tier's cutoff, or the rank cutoff if you haven't picked a tier. Cutoffs change every year, so treat this as a guide, not a prediction.
Why ReoSEL
Built around the real format
Paper and pencil, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning, timed sections. No apps or screens on test day, so none in practice.
Every question checked twice
Each question is solved independently and then reviewed by an experienced teacher before it reaches your child.
Hard enough to matter
The top Academic Centers fill seats near the top of the scale. Our practice is built to show the difference there, not just to feel good.
Be first to try the free diagnostic
We'll email you once when it opens this fall. No spam, and you can unsubscribe at any time.